Prison Legacy Replacement Digital Services

Tender description

Pre-market engagement N/A Work done so far We have a good understanding of our legacy prison systems and an agreed product & technical strategy for how that will replace it. We have already delivered several digital services to the operational front line and have started to switch off legacy systems. We have defined a backlog of suitable work for this contract which is currently being validated with business teams. Out of scope for this contract is legacy replacement involving: ● Full end to end transformational service redesign ● Significant changes to or full reviews of current HMPPS policies. Which phase the project is in Not started Existing team There is no existing team. The supplier will be working with MoJ stakeholders across the prison and probation organisation. Subject matter experts will be available to work with the team but all other delivery roles are expected to be resourced by the managed service provider. Address where the work will be done No specific location, for example they can work remotely Working arrangements There may be a requirement for visits to prisons, regional offices and teams in London headquarters. There may also be a requirement to travel for meetings in Sheffield or London. Outside of these visits and any meetings, there is no requirement to be office-based and individuals can work from home. Provide more information about your security requirements: Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Provide more information about your security requirements (optional): A minimum of Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) standard is required. Where access to live production data is necessary, Security Clearance (SC) will also be required. Latest start date 2023-12-18 Enter the expected contract length: 2 years Extension period: 1 year Special terms and conditions Deliverables are expected to align to the HMPPS Architecture Blueprint The supplier may initially be required to provide a level of 3rd-line product support for its products but this support will ultimately be handed over to an internal HMPPS-Digital team. It is therefore important that products are built using the standard HMPPS technology stack. Broadly speaking, this is: For user-interface focussed components: TypeScript Javascript gov.uk design system Template application repo for a front end service For data-management focussed components: Kotlin AWS RDS for PostgreSQL Template application repo for a back end service Other technologies in use: Development pipeline: CircleCI Docker Container management: Kubernetes Hosting: MOJ’s Cloud Platform Many products built using these technologies are already in production - the supplier will have many examples to refer to on how to build products the “HMPPS way”. Are you prepared to show your budget details?: Yes Indicative maximum: 4000000 Confirm if you require a contracted out service or supply of resource Contracted out service: the off-payroll rules do not apply Summary of work Provision of one or more multidisciplinary digital teams to build new digital services to replace discrete functionality in a legacy system. Where the supplied staff will work Yorkshire and the Humber Where the supplied staff will work London Where the supplied staff will work No specific location (for example they can work remotely) Who the organisation using the products or services is Ministry of Justice, Justice Digital Team Why the work is being done The MOJ has a bold strategic vision for the delivery of digital, data & technology in His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) which includes: replacing prison legacy systems with simpler, clearer, faster digital services by 2027 capturing, storing and sharing high quality data across services leading to better and faster decision-making. The replacement of legacy functionality provides an opportunity to improve and modernise the tools used by staff within prisons. The business problem you need to solve In the 2025 Justice Digital Strategy we committed to deliver digital prison services that replace legacy systems and support rehabilitation. Prison legacy systems are not fit for purpose, difficult to change and result in staff inefficiencies and inflexible, duplicated data. Our goal is to replace the core legacy prison systems by 2027 with a suite of modern, digital services that have a simple, consistent user interface, are interoperable and easy to change. This work is well underway but we do not have the internal capacity to deliver all the work required to meet this goal. As a result we wish to procure a supplier who can provide one or more multidisciplinary digital teams to build new digital services to replace discrete functionality in the legacy system. The supplier teams will be focused on functionality which does not require process transformation or significant change. We have a well defined stage-by-stage approach for how we replace legacy services. The supplier team(s) will build services that meet the Government Digital Standards and follow our defined approach. The approach includes building user-facing front end services and data-focused back end services and, for some services, it will involve engagement with the team responsible for migrating data and enabling synchronisation back to legacy systems. In some cases, some formative work has been undertaken which the supplier may be asked to consider when assigned a product to deliver As the functionality to be replaced will not require significant change, we envisage the supplier will follow the Government Service Standard and apply it in a flexible way that will enable a fast pace of delivery. First user type: HMPPS operational front line First user type: HMPPS administration staff First user type: HMPPS operation management First user type: HMPPS national and regional operation teams Enter more details about this user type: Prison officers & support staff who need efficient tools that enable them to deliver prison operations Enter more details about this user type: Prison administration staff who need real time and reliable systems and data to support the day to day running of the establishment Enter more details about this user type: Prison management who need efficient tools that enable them to deliver and manage prison operations Enter more details about this user type: Head Office and regional staff who need efficient tools to understand region and national delivery Questions and Clarifications 1. Are you looking for experience of building event-driven services using Kotlin specifically, or event-driven services in general? Suppliers need to have Kotlin experience and building event driven services. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:37 2. Will there be opportunities for user testing or feedback collection during the development phase? Data Migration and Integration: 1) Will all data migration be handled by internal teams? "The MOJ expects that the supplier will propose opportunities for research and feedback Data migration will be handled by the supplier team with support from the HMPPS technical community. Synchronisation services back to the legacy system is outside the scope of this contract but the chosen supplier will need to interface with this team." Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:33 3. Are there specific performance metrics or benchmarks (e.g., response times, uptime) that the new digital services are required to meet Project Approach and Scope: Yes. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:32 4. What technical languages are the existing legacy services written in and what will they need to be migrated to ? Experience and knowledge of the legacy system is not required - the solution will need to be built to the technologies listed in Special terms section. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:31 5. What level of familiarity with the MOJ’s Cloud Platform is expected of the supplier? How flexible is the HMPPS with introducing additional tools or technologies? As the work is underway, are the architecture diagrams available as part of the existing HMPPS architecture blueprint ? Experience of using Terraform would be useful. Low level knowledge of the cloud platform is not expected. Suggestions on additional tools & technologies are welcome, we do not envisage the need to incorporate additional tools and technologies. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:30 6. Do you expect the supplier to provide product design and service design roles ? The scope of this contract is unlikely to require significant service design skills but will require product design skills. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:29 7. ‘Experience of building event driven services using the components and technologies listed in the Technical Considerations section to modern, secure best practices and standards’ – where is this section ? Alternatively, can you provide the components and technologies? Please see https://security-guidance.service.justice.gov.uk/#cyber-and-technical-security-guidance and https://www.itgovernance.co.uk/uk-government-minimum-cyber-security-standard Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:28 8. What is Template application repo – can you provide more details Template repos are Git Hub repositories holding the source code on which we want the developed solution to be based. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:27 9. What is Template application repo – can you provide more details Template repos are Git Hub repositories holding the source code on which we want the developed solution to be based. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:23 10. Where is the legacy system is hosted? Is it on-premise or cloud. If the latter, where It is in the cloud. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:22 11. In Q6, you mention that the supplier needs to provide evidence of experience of developing metrics and applying suitable tools to analyse and understand performance of digital products and services. What tools do you have already in place? If none, do you have a preference on tools to use? We have Google Analytics and Microsoft AppInsights in place Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:20 12. The question 3 for Stage 2 asks to provide a project plan for what our team would deliver during the timescales. Is it a valid assumption that more details around what the team is expected to deliver during the contract will be shared once the 3 suppliers are shortlisted? There will be an opportunity to ask further questions. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:20 13. Are you looking for experience of building event-driven services using Kotlin specifically, or event-driven services in general? Suppliers need to have Kotlin experience and building event driven services. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:19 14. Please can you confirm what you mean by secure best practices and standards Please see https://security-guidance.service.justice.gov.uk/#cyber-and-technical-security-guidance and https://www.itgovernance.co.uk/uk-government-minimum-cyber-security-standard Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:18 15. Please can you confirm what you mean by event driven services The solution may need to react to events which lie outside the boundaries of the solution. Conversely the solution may need to emit events for other services to react to. These events are implemented using AWS SNS SQS services. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:17 16. Can the Authority confirm which legacy systems will be replaced by the work delivered under this contract? The core case management system used in prisons. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:16 17. Can the Authority describe the work undertaken in user research and design phase for the digital products in scope? A product and technical strategy have been developed for this portfolio. The legacy system has been analysed and its functionality aligned and mapped against the product strategy. The functionality & products that require a level of transformation and/or significant policy or operational change have been identified and existing teams have begun this work. The remainder of the functionality in the legacy system which does not require transformation or significant changes have been identified and some will form the scope of this contract. Further analysis and business validation is currently taking place. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:15 18. Is the Authority able to provide the product & technical strategy referenced in the requirements? The 2025 MOJ's digital strategy is here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-justice-digital-strategy-2025. The previous (2021/22) HMPPS digital and data strategy is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmpps-digital-data-and-technology-strategy-what-to-expect-in-202122 Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:14 19. Can the Authority describe the anticipated digital products that are within scope of this requirement? An example might be a cell sharing risk assessment digital product Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:14 20. Are you content for suppliers to cite multiple examples where their experience is best demonstrated across multiple projects? 5/ Under the section Additional information, you mention "Hosting: MOJ’s Cloud Platform". Is this an AWS-based platform? Or another cloud provider? "Yes. AWS" Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:13 21. By technology code of conduct are you referring to technology code of practice Yes. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:12 22. For question "Experience of building event driven services using the components and technologies listed in the Technical Considerations section to modern, secure best practices and standards.", please could you provide further information on how you are defining an "event driven service" in this context? The solution may need to react to events which lie outside the boundaries of the solution. Conversely the solution may need to emit events for other services to react to. These events are implemented using AWS SNS SQS services. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:11 23. Under the section Additional information, you mention a "Template application repo for a front end service" and a "Template application repo for a back end service". Please could you elaborate on what these are? Template repos are Git Hub repositories holding the source code on which we want the developed solution to be based. Last Updated: 29 September 2023, 10:10 24. What size team do you envisage being required to deliver the project. Team Composition and Collaboration: 1) How do you envision the collaboration between the supplier's team and the MOJ stakeholders and subject matter experts? 2). Will there be any initial onboarding or training sessions with the MoJ stakeholders and SMEs? User Experience: The MOJ expects that the supplier will propose this. Subject matter experts will be made available as required. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:34 25. What delivery framework is in place to manage the programme that the multidisciplinary digital team(s) would fit, so we can understand how we can workwith other teams? (e.g. scaled agile framework - SAFe) We do not use SAFe Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:32 26. Please can you confirm what you mean by a complex service environment? e.g. do you mean a technology service, or operational service? A public sector environment with complex policy and service requirements Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:31 27. Please can you confirm if you will be providing more detail to shortlisted suppliers at Stage 2 to help with question 3 that asks for a plan? Our understanding is you want to purchase one or more teams but it would be difficult to provide a plan from the current information available. At stage 2 MoJ reserves the right to provide more information / detail where required. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:29 28. In recent DOS 6 opportunities, we've noticed clients deviating from the usual practice of responding to each question with a single case study. Could you please clarify whether you expect a single case study example for each question response, detailing how we achieved something, or if you'd prefer us to showcase multiple examples by explaining how many times we've accomplished a task and the resulting impacts? In stage one if the word limit per response allows for a single case study happy to accept this. However the case study will apply more for the shortlisted suppliers ( stage 2) Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:24 29. Are there specific compliance standards or certifications that the supplier needs to be aware of? Support: 1) Are there specific documentation expectations ? Performance Metrics and Quality Assurance: 1) How will the success of the deliverables be measured? 2) Are there any specific KPIs or metrics that the supplier should be aware of from the start? The supplier will need to meet the Technology Code of Practice and be cognisant of the Government Service Standard Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:20 30. What is the volume of data that needs to be migrated or synchronised back to legacy systems? It depends per service. Synchronisation services back to the legacy system is outside the scope of this contract but the supplier will need to work with this team. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:19 31. Are there existing tools or processes in place for data migration, or will this be part of the supplier's responsibilities? Security and Compliance: 1) What are the security standards or protocols that need to be followed, given the sensitive nature of prison data? We will share this with the chosen supplier. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:19 32. Which digital services have already been delivered as part of this project. Are there existing documentation or architectural diagrams of the current legacy systems? We have delivered several digital services already. Documentation and diagrams will be shared with the chosen supplier. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:18 33. What are the expected number of daily active users on the system? 4) Can you provide data or estimates on the current user traffic and load on the existing legacy systems? In August 43,826 users logged into the system. There were 839,421 logins to the system. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:17 34. It is stated that ‘the supplier may initially be required to provide a level of 3rd-line support for its products’ – does this refer to legacy systems in-scope? what tech stack is used to build them ? For e.g., Is it Typescript/Javascript ad Kotlin or something else ? The supplier may need to provide 3rd line support for the digital services they build in this contract for the duration of this contract. Towards the end of the contract they will need to assist in the hand over of support to another team. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:16 35. Please can you clarify the tech/language for the back-end components? The information is detailed in the special terms and conditions section Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:15 36. Does the text on diagrams, tables, images count to the word limit? The text on images is not included within the word limit Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:13 37. Is there a team profile that you have in mind for this piece of work and number of people within the team so we can provide the relevant pricing information? The roles required are for the supplier to define. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:12 38. In your organisation, what roles comprise a multidisciplinary digital team? For example, would you expect delivery managers, business analysts, service designers, technical architects, software engineers, quality assurance engineers, platform engineers, UX designers, user researchers, or data engineers to be part of the team we provide? Which of these roles, if any, will be provided by the buyer? Which other roles would you expect to be included? Team composition varies across our organisation dependent on the nature of the work. The roles required are for the supplier to define. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:09 39. You have mentioned that the procurement is for 1 or multiple multidisciplinary digital teams. What factors would influence a decision of the number of the teams that you are expecting the supplier to provide? Supplier capacity within budget Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:08 40. what level will the buyer have refined the backlog for each multidisciplinary digital team we provide, and how much refinement do you envisage each team team performing? (e.g. roadmap level initiative level epic level story level task level) The backlog will be a prioritised list of functionality from the legacy system that the supplier will transition into a digital service. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:07 41. You have mentioned that you have defined a backlog of suitable work for this contract, which is currently being validated with business teams. How much of the backlog management work would sit within the multidisciplinary digital team provided by supplier (e.g. backlog refinement, estimation, prioritisation)? All backlog management will sit with the supplier. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:06 42. Attachment 1 Statement of Requirements states the supplier must provide initial 3rd-line product support for its products. What are your availability expectations of that service? 9-5 Mon - Fri Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:05 43. Attachment 1 Statement of Requirements states the supplier must provide initial 3rd-line product support for its products. Will the buyer have 1st and 2nd line support functions in place? Yes Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:04 44. Expected contract length says 2 years, 0 months, 0 days and then 1 years, 0 months, 0 days. Could you please clarify the expected contract length, ideally split between delivery and 3rd-line product support phases. To Clarify the expected contract length is 2 years Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:03 45. Attachment 1 Statement of Requirements states the supplier must provide initial 3rd-line product support for its products. For how long after the final delivery will this support be required The supplier may need to provide 3rd line support for the digital services they build in this contract for the duration of this contract. Towards the end of the contract they will need to assist in the hand over of support to another team. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:03 46. Attachment 1 Statement of Requirements states the buyer has a "well defined stage-by-stage approach for how we replace legacy services." Would you be able to share that approach, or at least explain what the stages are, so we can provide the relevant information around our knowledge and experience in our responses. "Our approach outlines the technical phases that are required to transition from the prison legacy system into a new digital prison service 1. Build the tool and a new database. Synchronisation services back to the legacy system is outside the scope of this contract but you will need to inteface with this team. The supplier team will own the data domain service (database, structure of fields, API) for the domain they are working in. The data domain model is owned by the HMPPS Technical Architect Community. 2. Disable the prison legacy system screens Once staff can complete the entire task in DPS, the prison legacy system screens are switched off 3. Link reports to the new database Reporting is rbeing esolved outside the scope of this contract, but the supplier will need to inteface with this team and link new tools to the reporting solution. 4. Remove the link between the prison legacy system database and the new digital tool so it no longer sends data back to the prison legacy system. Formative work will not be shared with suppliers prior to bid responses. All the formative work relates to work that has started and progressed through these technical phases." Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:02 47. In reference to Attachment 1, “Problem to be solved.”– Could we get any more information on what is meant by “data-focused” backend services "Our approach outlines the technical phases that are required to transition from the prison legacy system into a new digital prison service 1. Build the tool and a new database. Synchronisation services back to the legacy system is outside the scope of this contract but you will need to inteface with this team. The supplier team will own the data domain service (database, structure of fields, API) for the domain they are working in. The data domain model is owned by the HMPPS Technical Architect Community. 2. Disable the prison legacy system screens Once staff can complete the entire task in DPS, the prison legacy system screens are switched off 3. Link reports to the new database Reporting is rbeing esolved outside the scope of this contract, but the supplier will need to inteface with this team and link new tools to the reporting solution. 4. Remove the link between the prison legacy system database and the new digital tool so it no longer sends data back to the prison legacy system. Formative work will not be shared with suppliers prior to bid responses. All the formative work relates to work that has started and progressed through these technical phases." Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:01 48. Are the services being replaced all in beta or are they in different phases? The majority of the digital services that are in scope of this contract have not been started. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 18:00 49. Can the Authority confirm which legacy systems will be replaced by the work delivered under this contract? The core case management system used in prisons. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:59 50. Do you have a view on the range of roles/disciplines to be supplied through this contract, is it the full range of DDaT roles or a subset? The roles required are for the supplier to define. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:58 51. Are you content for suppliers to include private sector examples if they are relevant to the question being posed? Yes Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:57 52. Could you provide an explanation of what you mean when you state 'The supplier teams will be focused on functionality which does not require process transformation or significant change'. Would it be possible to provide some examples of what this might include? Does this relate to improving user experience? The functionality is fit for purpose and does not require policy changes or significant change to the way users complete the task. For some functionality users may benefit from improvements to user interface or journey Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:56 53. In reference to Attachment 3, “Essential skills and experience,” Question 6 - • What is meant by performance? • Technical performance such as downtime, speed and stability? User research feedback? Or? Service and business performance metrics Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:53 54. In reference to Attachment 1, “Problem to be solved.”– Where services are duplicating data / effort, would Digital be keen for us to identify opportunity for creating agnostic data services that could be consumed by multiple services or is that work underway elsewhere? If the latter would we able to work closely with that team? Is there any data mapping or capability mapping that we could review? If this does not exist, would MoJ be appetite for our creating cross service high level view? Defining the data strategy is underway and outside the scope of this contract. The supplier will contribute to documenting data domains and mapping data and dependencies. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:52 55. In reference to Attachment 1, ‘Why the work is being done’ and “Who the users are and what they need to do” and “Problem to be solved”. There are several references to data quality / reliability but there is no reference to data discovery or a specific question relating to data integrity. • Is improving data integrity a strategic focus for this work or is it assumed to organically improve by improving the user experience and uptake? • If the former, we would be keen to evaluate what is asked, why and how. Is there appetite & opportunity for data discovery? • “The supplier teams will be focused on functionality which does not require process transformation or significant change” and full end to end transformational service redesign is out of scope but if we identified a need to change how data is captured in order to improve its integrity, would that be considered transformative and therefore at odds with the brief/scope? The wholesale change of data and improvement of data integrity is outside the scope of this contract, though small scale data improvements should be considered Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:51 56. In reference to Attachment 1, “Additional information” – • “The supplier may initially be required to provide a level of 3rd-line product support for its products but this support will ultimately be handed over to an internal HMPPS-Digital team. It is therefore important that products are built using the standard HMPPS technology stack.” – Will we be providing live support for the legacy services? • Is it possible to obtain documentation on the “HMPSS way”? The supplier will not provide any support for legacy services. The supplier may need to provide 3rd line support for the digital services they build in this contract for the duration of this contract. Towards the end of the contract they will need to assist in the hand over of support to another team. Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:50 57. In reference to Attachment 1, “Who the users are and what they need to do” – • Is the current hardware used by the prison staff expected to still be the same over the next two years? Will Quantum machines still be in use in 2024? • How sophisticated / complex are the Head Office and Regional Staff needs? • Do they want to query services for minister questions or just see dashboard with more basic queries (i.e. No. of male prisoners in region in X period of time) "The current hardware used by prison staff is expected to be the same for the next 2 years. Data reporting is outside the scope of this contract" Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:49 58. In reference to Attachment 1, “Existing team” – • Are the services all digital prisons or also probation services? • Which services or products are being replaced? What services areas do they belong to? • Please provide a list of roles from the DDAT Delivery Framework that you expect to be part of the delivery team. "The services are primarily for prison users but some will also have other users, including probation. MOJ expects that roles required are defined by the supplier. " Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:47 59. In reference to Attachment 1, “Problem to be solved” – • Can we have a copy / further information on the ‘well-defined stage-by-stage approach’ for how MoJ/JDT will replace legacy services? • Can we also have information on the ‘defined approach’ that will meet Government Digital Standards? • Can you confirm there are data specific stakeholders and if so, who? • Can we have some technical spec for the legacy systems? • “The approach includes building user-facing front end services and data-focused back end services and, for some services, it will involve engagement with the team responsible for migrating data and enabling synchronisation back to legacy systems.” – Please provide more information about the technical and architectural approaches to synchronising back to legacy systems and timescales around retiring these legacy systems. • “In some cases, some formative work has been undertaken which the supplier may be asked to consider when assigned a product to deliver” – Will this formative work be shared prior to bid responses? "Our approach outlines the technical phases that are required to transition from the prison legacy system into a new digital prison service 1. Build the tool and a new database. Synchronisation services back to the legacy system is outside the scope of this contract but you will need to inteface with this team. The supplier team will own the data domain service (database, structure of fields, API) for the domain they are working in. The data domain model is owned by the HMPPS Technical Architect Community. 2. Disable the prison legacy system screens Once staff can complete the entire task in DPS, the prison legacy system screens are switched off 3. Link reports to the new database Reporting is rbeing esolved outside the scope of this contract, but the supplier will need to inteface with this team and link new tools to the reporting solution. 4. Remove the link between the prison legacy system database and the new digital tool so it no longer sends data back to the prison legacy system. Formative work will not be shared with suppliers prior to bid responses. All the formative work relates to work that has started and progressed through these technical phases." Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:46 60. In reference to Attachment 1, “Problem to be solved” – “Our goal is to replace the core legacy prison systems by 2027 with a suite of modern, digital services that have a simple, consistent user interface, are interoperable and easy to change.” Is this work relating to the move away from monoliths into microservices and retire Oasys & NOMIS? Is there any collateral we could have regarding the broader technical transformation? The 2025 MOJ's digital strategy is here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-justice-digital-strategy-2025. The previous (2021/22) HMPPS digital and data strategy is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmpps-digital-data-and-technology-strategy-what-to-expect-in-202122 Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:44 61. In reference to Attachment 1, “Why the working is being done” – Are we expected to need Data analysts and/or data scientists? Do MoJ data team(s) have capacity to support us? "You will not need data scientists. We expect the supplier to build the digital tool, user interface and a new database. Synchronisation services back to the legacy system is outside the scope of this contract but the chosen supplier will need to interface with this team. The supplier team will own the data domain service (database, structure of fields, API) for the domain they are working in. " Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:43 62. In reference to Attachment 1, “Why the working is being done” – Do the services have any specific data requirements or further definition of the desired quality? Data consumer users? (i.e., users who want a data dashboard?) Data reporting is outside the scope of this contract Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:42 63. In reference to Attachment 1, “Why the working is being done” - Is it possible to have a copy / further information on the MOH’s strategic vision for the delivery of DDaT in HMPPS? The 2025 MOJ's digital strategy is here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-justice-digital-strategy-2025. The previous (2021/22) HMPPS digital and data strategy is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmpps-digital-data-and-technology-strategy-what-to-expect-in-202122 Last Updated: 28 September 2023, 17:41 64. Experience of the prison environment, would you accept experience from other parts of the justice system (for example, probation) to be relevant here for suppliers who have not worked directly with prisons previously? Yes, We are looking for any relevant experience you have of working with prisons - wider MOJ experience may be relevant. Last Updated: 25 September 2023, 13:41 65. We would like to ask the following clarification questions: - Please can you confirm the extent of Kotlin required and proportion of the team that you would expect to have experience in Kotlin? - In response to question 4 ‘Experience of building event driven services using the components and technologies listed in the Technical Considerations section to modern, secure best practices and standards’, would it be acceptable to refer to experiences using technologies similar to Kotlin? Kotlin is our chosen technology for data-management components - experience in Kotlin and an ability to use Kotlin is a pre-requisite for this contract. Last Updated: 25 September 2023, 13:39 66. Could you please provide answers for our following questions? 1. Will there be an opportunity for clarifications during Stage 2? Particularly as additional documents will be issued at Stage 2. 2. Can you confirm the weightings for the technical response are broken down accurately - with Stage 1 scores forming 70% of the technical competence score and Stage 2 plus presentation forming 30%. 3. Can you confirm how the pricing score will be calculated e.g. given a score based on the order of price across proposals or using a scoring methodology that takes the precise price into account. 4. Can we include images as part of our responses to Stage 1 and 2? 5. Essential Criteria Q4 - Can you clarify where to find the technical considerations section of the Statement of Requirements. If you are referring to the Terms and Conditions section. please can you clarify the components. 6. Nice-to-Have Criteria Q3 - Can you clarify whether civil service teams is specifically other digital delivery teams or whether this is broader into policy, HQ and operational front line teams? (1) Yes there will be the opportunity to ask clarification questions, however issue of additional documents is optional. (2) "Stage 1 will be a 100% using the highest scoring out of the submissions/evaluations that will be carried over to stage 2 (3 suppliers), Stage 2 weighting will be a split into the following: Technical Competence - 60% Cultural fit - 10% Social values - 10% Price - 20%" (3) For stage 2 price will make up 20% of the weightings, which will be based on the order of price across proposals received in stage 2 (4) For stage 1 you have only 750 characters per question, however for stage 2 you can provide images. (5) It is the information detailed in the special terms and conditions. (6) For this contract, the teams will largely be within Justice Digital but there may be a need to also work with HMPPS civil servant teams. Last Updated: 21 September 2023, 11:05 67. For the following question "Working within a government programme that requires close working with other civil service teams and managed services", are you referring to civil service teams within the department or external to it For this contract, the teams will largely be within Justice Digital but there may be a need to also work with HMPPS civil servant teams. Last Updated: 21 September 2023, 08:09 68. how would you define a 'complex public policy and service environment'? A public sector environment with complex policy and service requirements Last Updated: 21 September 2023, 08:08 69. For the question regarding developing metrics, are you referring to tech performance metrics or service/business performance metrics? Service and business performance metrics Last Updated: 21 September 2023, 08:07 70. Q4 refers to a tech considerations section in the document, but there is no such specific section. please clarify where this is? is it special terms and conditions Yes, it is the information detailed in the special terms and conditions. Last Updated: 21 September 2023, 08:05 71. can you please confirm if the 750 character limit is per question i.e. 750 characters for Q1 Essential Skills, 750 characters for Q2 Essential Skills, or is the the total character allowance for all 6 questions in the Essential Skills section? Yes its 750 characters per question Last Updated: 21 September 2023, 08:04 72. Please could you advise: 1) Are we permitted to use our own template for submission or are we to use the template contained within attachment 3 2) Are we permitted to convert response to a PDF 1) For consistency could you kindly utilise template contained within attachment 3 2)Yes this is acceptable. Last Updated: 21 September 2023, 08:03 73. Please can you confirm if the 750 character count includes or excludes spaces? This includes spaces Last Updated: 21 September 2023, 08:02 74. Please can you expand on what exactly you are looking here as a response: "Experience of the prison environment" Will it be sufficient to demonstrate wider Ministry of Justice experience? We are looking for any relevant experience you have of working with prisons - wider MOJ experience may be relevant. Last Updated: 21 September 2023, 08:01